Vision Logo Circle
Vision Logo Circle

Drug, Crime Fears For Our Capital

by | Wed, Jun 29 2022

Text size: A- A+

The Australian Christian Lobby (ACL) has joined Australia’s most senior police officer in condemning moves to liberalise drug laws in our national capital.

The ACT government has indicated it will support a proposed bill to decriminalise possession of small amounts of illicit drugs like cocaine, methamphetamine and heroin.

ACL Managing Director Martyn Iles told Vision Radio the ACT is experimenting with “dangerous stuff”.

He went on to say: “The police commissioner has come out and said this is madness .. if you have people able to carry this stuff around, use it in small quantities without a problem, you’re going to end up with more murders, more thefts, more psychological problems .. it is a disaster for police”

Australian Federal Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw told a parliamentary committee that if the bill is passed, organised crime would target the ACT and make the job of police much harder

Commissioner Kershaw said it could lead to “narco-tourism” in the nation’s capital.

“Organised crime will want to target this community because they can move their product quite easily,” he told a hearing of a Senate legal and constitutional affairs committee.

Under the proposal by Labor MLA Michael Pettersson, personal use of heroin, ice and methamphetamines would remain a crime, but the penalties for those caught with two grams or less would be reduced from jail to a $100 fine.

Police would confiscate the drugs and the person would be referred to a health program in a bid to move the emphasis from punishment to treatment.

Outgoing Liberal senator for the ACT Zed Seselja said it was “a reckless proposal that endangers the lives of Canberra families”.

Mr Pettersson argues: “A threat of jail time or a criminal record does not deter people from taking drugs. It never has and it never will.”

He was the driving force behind the legalisation of cannabis possession in the ACT which came into effect last year.